
Class^£S3S"0 3 

Book La4^ 

Copyright N^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



Smile and Sing 

^ J* and other verses j» > 

J» J» Jt Jt by ^ Jt Jt Jt 

o» ANNIE MARIE BLISS ^ 



Sl> 







Published fay 

A. M, Bliss Publishing Co., 

Reading, Massachusetts. 

J905. 



OCT 'ii l^^ I 



Smile and Sing 

SENT BY MAIL 

PREPAID 

UPON RECEIPT OF 

PRICE 



Fifty Cents 



Copyright, 1905, 
by 

Annie Marie Bliss. 



offered in loving gratitude 

To A. A. H. 

To whom the lines 

"Smile and Sing" 

and 

"In Quietness and Confidence" 

were originally written in 1900. 



TABLE of CONTENTS. 



Smile and Sing .... Page u 


IN Quietness and Confidence 


' 12 


Consider the roses . . . ' 


* 14 


The song of Bethlehem 


' 15 


Shadows 


' 16 


The angel of peace ... 


' 17 


TRIFLES 


* 19 


LOVE'S Work .... • 


* 20 


THE HEART'S HOLIDAYS . . . ' 


* 21 


THE GARDEN OF THE WORLD . 


' 23 


OUR FATHERS' GOD . . . ' 


* 26 



Smile and Sing, 



Smile, little sister, when all seems wrong, 
Shorten the long day with a song. 

Show your light in the darkened place. 
And see it reflect in another's face. 

It's as easy to sing as it is to fret, 

Think happy thoughts and the gloom forget. 

Hundreds are walking the self-same road. 
Lose your own, easing another's load. 

Stretch out a hand to those at your side, 
Lead them to Heaven's door open wide. 

A smile is the hinge on which it swings. 
And God's own messenger, a heart that sings. 



II 



''In Quietness and Confidence. 



? ? 



My heart was heavy with thoughts of self, 
Tossed hither and yon with doubt and fear ; 
And I longed for the rest that was promised "there" 
To recompense me for the burden "here." 

I fought with discouragement weak with the strife, 
And hoped with a courage born of despair, 
That sometime and somewhere the Father would hear 
My cry in the dark, and answer my prayer. 

But my eyes were closed and I could not see 
The floods of light that enveloped me ; 
And the shadow and chill of perpetual night 
Seemed taking the place of the warmth and the light. 

And the ears so deaf from the jar and roar 
Of earth's machinery, heard no more 
The heavenly music, sweet and strong, 
Of the ringing chorus of infinite song. 

Till a messenger fleet from the shores of peace 
From my dream of sense roused me at length. 
And I heard a voice, small, still, and sweet : 
"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." 



12 



Then I knew that the sun was shining still, 
The joy-bells rang for me their chime ; 
I had proved that the promise of God was sure, 
My prayer was answered and peace was mine. 



13 



Consider the Roses 



open your heart, little sister, 
To the sunshine and the dew ; 
Live the life of a rose, dear, 
And Life's roses will bloom for you. 

Bloom, little sister, and sweeten 
The air so heavy with sin ; 
Let your sunny face brighten 
Dark chambers of thought within. 

Tell it not in words, dear, 
The roses do not preach ; 
The perfume tells the story, 
Our deeds the lessons teach. 

Don't fret at your narrow quarters, 
And long for another place ; 
*Tis the blighting frost of discontent 
That kills the smile in your face. 

Be patient and brave if the tempest 
Seems to bring you pain ; 
For hearts are cleansed of earth-dust 
As roses are washed in rain. 



14 



The Song of Bethlehem 



Arranged for Music: — "One Sweetly Solemn 
Thought" by R, S. Ambrose. 



Angels of Bethlehem, 

Heralds of heavenly light, 

Sang a song of tidings glad 
To the toilers in the night. 

And o'er a sleeping world. 

Shone the star of Hope to men, 

Lighting the purple darkness. 
Sweet star of Bethlehem. 

E'en now it lights the path 
Where we often walk alone, 

Hope shines on our darkness. 
Guiding the feet that roam. 

Still are the angels singing. 

Soothing the heart aches of m.en ; 

Cheering those who work and pray. 
Sweet songs of Bethlehem. 

Father, Oh lead thy children 
O'er hills and valleys low. 

To the humble place of cradled Love 
God is here, we know. 



15 



Shadows 



In my path a shadow lay, 

Stretched before me long and dark ; 
And I feared the next step onward, 

With a heaviness of heart. 

And I tripped and stumbled blindly 
Over stones I could not see ; 

When a voice of silver sv/eetness 
Called from overhead to me : — 

"Turn about, O weary traveler, 
Face the sunlight of God's day ; 

'Tis yourself that casts the shadow 
That is darkening your way." 

''Face the light, so shall the shadow 
Lay behind thee, — seen no more ; 
And the stones o'er which you stumbled 
Shall lead up to Heaven's door." 

As I turned to hear the message. 
Slowly moved the shadow, too. 

"Could it be," I thought in wonder, 
"That the angel voice spake true ?" 

Yes, 'twas self that cast the shadow, 
I have proved it many a time ; 

For I'm facing God's bright sunlight. 
And the shadows lay behind. 



i6 



The Ansel of Peace 



Gently as the snowflakes falling 

From a dark and cloudy sky, 
Sweetly as showers of cherry blooms 

From grey branches bare and dry, 
Comes the Angel of His Presence 

Out of clouds that dim the sight. 
Bringing peace like breath of perfume, 

Clothing earth in robes of v/hite. 

'Tis the same sweet voice of "Peace" 

That the faithful shepherds heard ; 
And the storm-tossed, frightened sailors 

Saw the waves obey the word 
That we hear while we are working, 

Ofttimes in a starry night ; 
Sore afraid we call the Master, 

And His "Peace" puts fear to flight. 

Oft while climbing rugged hillsides, 

Footsore, weary, and alone, — 
Arms invisible, everlasting. 

Round us lovingly are throv/n. 
And the crooked paths are straightened, 

Stones and briers are brushed aside 
By that Presence, "Prince of Peace," 

Counsellor, companion, guide. 



17 



So like showers of cherry blooms, 
Fragrant let our deeds of love 

Sweeten barren lives around us 

With pure thoughts born from above. 

And when storms and tempests gather, 
And the darkening clouds drop rain. 

O'er the v^aves walks Love victorious, — 

With His "Peace," Christ comes again. 




i8 



Trifles 



It was only a cheery *'Good morning," 

That she said as I started away ; 
But it echoed and rang in my busy thought 

As I worked through a long, long day. 

It was only a smile that she gave me, 
But the smile v/as so sweet and true 

That it gilded the edge of my cloudy thought 
'Till it melted the cloud in blue. 

It was only a rose with a message, 
And "I love you," was all that it said ; 

But it lifted a doubt which had seemed to be. 
Leaving sweet peace instead. 

T'was only a short verse of comfort 

That she culled from the storehouse of Love ; 

But the truth was the balm for a sense of hurt, 
And it lifted my thought above. 

It is often the things we call "Trifles," 
(If a smile or a flower may be such), 

That are sure to help others and make us grow. 
For he gaineth, who giveth much. 

And the sweetness from loving and doing 
When the heart from all self is freed. 

Is for you, and for me, and for every one, 
"Who is filling a brother's need. 



19 



Love's Work. 



Ours the sowing and the weeding 
And the reaping to be done ; 

God's to send His showers of blessing 
And His warming sun. 

Ours to labor in the field 
From dawn till set of sun ; 

God's to cheer the laborers 
With His sweet "Well done." 

Be our words the flowers, 

And our deeds the golden wheat, 

To feed the hearts so hungry 
With the bread of life so sweet. 



20 



The Heart's Holidays, 



Every day is a New Years Day 
As the heart outgrows the old ; 
Every morn of an untried day 
Has a wealth of joy untold. 
Yesterday with its burden and care 
With the night has slipped away, 
And the smiling face of an infant morn 
Cheers the heart and gilds the day. 

Every day is an Easter Day 

To the crucified heart of earth ; 

Self is the stone that has sealed the place 

Of the resurrection birth. 

Love is the hand that has brought release 

And it leads to life and light ; 

Into gardens of loveliness 

Where we walk 'mid lilies white. 

Every day is a Thanksgiving Day 
If we count our blessings o'er ; 
Every day is a harvest gleaned 
Where another sowed before. 
Every day has its joyful feast, 
And the meal by Love prepared, 
Feeds the hungry and cheers the heart 
As the bread and wine are shared. 



21 



Every day is a Christmas Day 
To the heart that seeks the Child ; 
Bright the star that leads the way 
O'er the plains and hills so wild. 
"We, who now^ with the wise men seek 
And our gold and treasures bring, 
Find him close to the mother heart 
And we kneel to the infant king. 




22 



The Garden of the World 



I stood outside a garden fair 

Murmuring at my loneliness ; 
And watched the toilers working there 

Amid the perfumed loveliness. 

I thought "If I could linger here, 
I know that work must pleasure be ; 

No heart can ache, no life be drear. 
When only roses one can see." 

The gardener hearkened to my plea. 

The latch was raised and welcome said ; 

The workers came, and, greeting me, 
A rose crown placed upon my head. 

I smiled and sang a song of praise. 

And thought the angels close at hand ; 

The sun shone warm in perfumed rays. 
Was this not Heaven's border-land ? 

Full soon a task was given to me, — 
To cultivate and tend each day 

My piece of land, to prune each tree, 
To keep the garden foes away. 



23 



Neath burning sun, in days of rain, 

W^ith bending form the ground I tilled; 
The cruel thorns left tracks of pain, 

And eyes with scalding tears were filled. 

The crown that once was blushing red, 
The heat had withered, the tempest torn ; 

The roses and the leaves were dead. 
Each rose left its companion thorn. 

Then, weary of all the pain, I sought 
The Master's side, imploring him 

To free me from my irksome lot, 

For heart was sad and eyes were dim. 

"My child, you know not what you ask, 
The freedom that is yours to know 

Is strength that's equal to the task, 
And not to flee, but face the foe." 

"Fear not, though hard the lesson be, 
And often learned through bitter pain ; 

The tasks that self has set for thee 
Are holding o'er thee cruel reign." 

"For weary grows ambition's way 

"When lashed by selfish greed of fame ; 

And pleasure's flowers droop and fade, 
While gold is winged with selfish gain." 



24 



"The cruel thorns that bruise and sting 
Sink deeper with each selfish thought ; 

And only unselfed love can bring 

Release from bondage self has wrought. 

"A love that sees thy brother's needs, 
Gives tenderness instead of blame ; 

Forgives the hasty word, nor heeds 
The whispering of suspicion's name." 

And then I saw the Master's hand 
Point where my pathway lay ; 

It was the self-same garden land 

VJheve I had thought I could not stay. 

Again the gate swung open wide, 

And Love went in this time with me ; 

While self, thorn-crowned was crucified 
Outside the gate, and I was free. 

Yes, free ! And work is now a song, 
Since Love has set my heart in tune ; 

Love's "everlasting arms" are strong, 
And Heaven's smile is perfect boon. 



25 



Hymn. 



Our Fathers' God. 



Arranged for music: — "To the Angef by Napoleon Zatdot 
published by G, Ricordi &c Co., London, 



God of our Fathers ! 

Mighty One of glory ! 

Love breathes thy story 

Soft as summer air. 

Come with thy blessing, 

Earth's weary resting, 

And whisper peace to hearts that mourn. 

God's will is done, 

And angels come 

To set the earth-bound free. 

Hushed the sound of weeping ; 
Ceased the cry of pain. 
Night's veil is lifted. 
Dark clouds are rifted. See ! 
The sunrise lights the earth, 
God's children rise and sing 
To greet the day. 



26 



Oh Love Divine ! 
Our lives are thine ! 
Sweet voices cheer us 
And make us strong. 
When foes appear 
Be thou more near! 
Encamp around us, 
Our safe-guard be, 
And lead us on! 




27 



<^CT 7 11905 



